Sewer flooding control apparatus



May 25,1937. I w E,.. H K 2,081,298

SEWER FLOObING CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 2 2, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM E. HARDACKER ATTORNEY May 25, 1937. W. E. HARDACKER SEWER FLOODING CONTROL APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 22. 1936 INVENTOR.

WILL-(AME. .HARDACKERI I "/1 wfi/bw ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1937 v UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE- 11 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a sewer flooding control apparatus or mechanism adapted to the purpose of preventing back-up flooding from sewer drain pipes, and presents improvements over the sewer flooding control apparatuses or mechanisms illustrated and described in patents to Hardacker and Hessel, No. 1,779,040, granted October 21, 1930, and No. 1,799,849, granted April '7, 1931.

An object of the invention is to provide a sewer flooding control apparatus or mechanism wherein will be incorporated Various improved features and characteristics of construction novel both as individual entities of said apparatus or mech anism and in combination with each other.

A further object is to provide in said sewer flooding control apparatus or mechanism, a sewer drain pipe control valve which will be of novel and improved construction.

A further object is to provide in said apparatus or mechanism,a novel'and improved construction andarrangement of float chamber or equivalent with float or equivalent designed to be actuated by :sewage or waste matter to regulate water valves employed-in the manipulation of'the con trol valve for the sewer drain pipe.

A'further object is to provide in said apparatus or mechanism, a float chamber for receiving sewage or waste matter from a sewer drain pipe, during back-up of sewage or waste matter, a float in said chamber adapted to cause water valves employed in the manipulation of the control valve for saidsewer drain pipe to be manipulated; and a novel and improved construction and arrangement for guiding the float, or its stem or rod, designed'to provide for ready removal of air from and entry of air to the float chamber in response to rising and falling float movements'and sealing of the float chamber against the passage of sewage or waste matter therefrom when the float is elevated to position above which there could or mechanism, a novel and improved construc-' tion and arrangement for, flushing the before mentioned float chamber or equivalent with waste water from a water supply system under head pressure. employed to actuate the control valve of the sewer drain pipe to open and to closed positions. A i

A further object is to provide a construction and arrangement for flushing the float chamber or equivalent with waste water, as just stated; which will include an atmospheric break, so-called, as a part thereof adapted to the purpose of precluding possibility of back-up of polluted water from the sewer drain system to the water system at times when there is back-up in said sewer drain system.

A further object is to provide in said apparatus or mechanism, a construction and arrangement for causing the float chamber or equivalent of the apparatus or mechanism to be gravity flushed by waste water from a water supply system em-' ployed to actuate the control valve of the sewer drain pipe.

V A further object is to provide in said apparatus or mechanism, a flush construction and arrangement, as just stated, which will include as a part thereof a tank or vessel adapted to receive water from said water supply system and to by gravity supply the water received to said float chamber or equivalent to flush it, a water feed pipe leading from the water supply system and communicating: with an upper portion of the tank or vessel, and

an overflow pipe for water leading from anrele-,

vation of said tank or vessel below the location of entry of said water feed pipe to the tank or vessel, whereby said water feed pipe and overflow pipe incooperation with the portion of the tank or vessel between the elevations of the inlet from said water feed pipe and the outlet to said overflow-pipe will provide an atmospheric break, so-called, for precluding back-up of polluted water or waste matter from the sewer drain system, at times of back-up in said system, into the mentioned water feed pipe whence the polluted water or waste matter could possibly contaminate the water supply system.

And a further object is to provide in said apparatus or mechanism, a simplified, novel and improved construction and arrangement of water valves, and water valve casing or casings, em ployed in the manipulation of the control valvev for the sewer drain pipe.

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

and characteristics of the invention are incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken at the position indicated, generally, by line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the upper portion of the gravity flush tank or vessel, illustrating a preferred arrangement of water inlet pipe to and water outlet pipe from said gravity flush tank or vessel;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the water valve casing or casings with valves, taken as on line 44 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of said water valve casing or casings with valves, taken as on line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of said water valve casing or casings, taken on linev 66 in Fig. 4 and looking toward the bottom of the sheet;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of said water valve easing or casings, taken on said line 6-45 in Fig. 4 and looking toward the top of the sheet;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view, taken as on line 88 in Fig. 9, detailing features of the sewer drain pipe control valve;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on line 9-9 in Fig. 8, detailing additional features of said sewer drain pipe control valve, the present view illustrating the control valve for the sewer drain pipe as when partially closed and not, seated;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but disclosing thesewer drain pipe control valve as when completely closed and seated; and

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the float chamber and the float therein.

With respect to the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, a sewer drain pipe I5 is constituted as a part of a sewerage or drainage system (not shown). The drain pipe [5 has a portion I6 thereof adapted to lead downwardly, as from the floor (not shown) of a basement, for example, to the casing I! of a gate valve 18 for controlling the sewer drain pipe I5, and said drain pipe has a portion l9 thereof at the side of the gatevalve opposite the portion I6 and adapted to be connected to an ordinary sewer.

A stem 20 for the gate valve I8 passes upward- 1y through a stufling box 2| carried by the casing A pair of upper and lower castings, denoted 22 and 23, respectively, serve as cylinder heads for a cylinder which additionally includes a tubularmember 24. The cylinder composed of the heads 22, 23 and the tubular member 24 is supported by the casing I! and is situated above said casing in spaced relation thereto. As disclosed, tie rods 25 extend through marginal portions of the castings 22 and 23, as well as through an annular flange 26 upon said casing Spacingsleeve 21 upon the tie rods 25 and between the casting 23 and the annular flange 26 fix the relation of said casting 23 to the casing H, and nuts, denoted 28 and 29, respectively, upon said tie rods are turned down against the upper surface of the casting 22 and the lower surface of the annular flange 26-to clamp the tubular member 24 between the castings 22 and 23 and the spacing sleeves 21 between the casting 23 and the annular flange 26. When the nuts 28 and 29 are turned home, the opposite ends of the tubular member 24 are firmly and closely seated in annular grooves 30 in the castings or cylinder heads 22-and 23; respectively, in such manner as torender water-tightthe cylinder constituted by said castings or heads and tubular member. Each casting or cylinder head 22 and 23 includes a port or passageway, indicated 3| and 32, respectively, in communication with the interior 33 of the cylinder.

It will be evident that the cylinder 22, 23, 24 can be situated at any preferred elevation above the casing I! which supports said cylinder, the actual elevation of the cylinder depending upon the lengths of the spacing sleeves 21 and tie rods 25.

A piston 34, of any suitable and preferred construction and adapted to be reciprocated in the cylinder 22, 23, 24, may be attached to the stem 20 of the gate valve l8 in any convenient or preferred manner. Said stem 2!! is slidably guided in the castings or cylinder heads 22 and 23, and stuffing boxes 35 are disposed about the stem and carried by said castings or heads.

The piston 34 is actuated; that is, elevated and depressed; by water under influence of head pressure of a source (not shown) of water supply, as, for example, under head pressure of water employed in an ordinary house supply water system. When the piston is elevated, the stem 20 and its gate valve are, naturally, raised to open the sewer drain pipe l5, and when the piston is depressed, the stem and gate valve are lowered to close said sewer drain pipe. Evidently, movement of the gate valve |8 to closed position in the sewer drain pipe precludes travel of sewage or waste matter from the portion IQ of said sewer drain pipe to the portion Hi thereof, and thus prevents the passage of sewage or waste matter into a basement, or the like, when there'is back-up of sewage or waste matter in a sewer to which the portion I9 is connected.

The sewer flooding control apparatus or mechanism includes a float chamber 36 or equivalent with float 37, or equivalent device, situated at a level below the inner or house end of the portion |6 of the sewer drain pipe I5, and a pipe connection 38 leading from the portion 9 of said sewer drain pipe to a lower portion of said float chamber. Said float 31 or equivalent is elevated as the result of back-up in the sewer to cause the piston 34 to be depressed, through the instrumentality of water pressure under the influence of head pressure, and the gate valve l8 to thus be moved to closed position, and said float or equivalent is depressed by gravity upon the cessation of sewer back-up to cause the piston 34 to be elevated, also through the instrumentality of water under the influence of said head pressure, and the gate valve to thus be moved to open position.

A water valve casing or casings includes upper, intermediate and lower fittings, represented 39, 40 and 4|, respectively. The upper fitting 39 has a peripheral flange 42 upon its lower portion which is attached to and against a peripheral flange 43 upon the upper portion of the intermediate fitting 40, as by screw bolts 44, and the lower fitting 4| has a peripheral flange 45 upon its upper portion which is attached to and against a peripheral flange 46 upon the lower portion of the intermediate fitting, as by screw bolts 41, so that said fittings cooperate to provide a watertight valve casing or casings.

The intermediate fitting 40 includes upper and lower walls, indicated 48 and 49, respectively. Each wall 48 has a pair of valve seats, denoted 5|! and 5|, respectively, and an opening 52 adjacent the valve seats. Each wall 45 has a pair of valve seats, denoted 53 and 54, respectively, and

an opening 55 adjacent the valve seats. The

valve seats 50, 53 and 54 are, respectively, in vertical alinement. A vertical Wall 56 extends between the walls 48 and 49,and is disposed between the valve seats 59, 5| and 53, 54, respectively. As disclosed, the vertical wall 56 extendsobliquely to a vertical plane passed through all of the valve seats 58, 5|, 53 and 54, and the openings 52 and 55-are at the same side of said vertical wall 56, in vertical alinement with each other.- Said openings 52 and 55 are at the same side of the vertical wall 56 as are the valve seats "5| and 54. The vertical wall 56 divides the inter- 'mediate fitting 40 into separate compartments,

represented 51 and 58, respectively. Said compartment 58 is subdivided by a horizontal wall 59 into two smaller compartments; indicated 66 and -from a source (not shown) of water supply under head pressure is connected to a passageway 66 The upper fitting 39 includes a vertical wall 61' which divides said fitting 39 into separate compartments; indicated 68 and69,-respectively. Said vertical wall 61 extends obliquely to a vertical plane passed through all of the valve seats 59, 5|, 53 and 54, is oblique to the vertical wall 56, is disposed between the valve seats 58 and 5|, and is at the side of the opening 52 opposite said wall 56. The compartment 68 is above or over the valve seat 58, and the compartment 69 is above or over the valve seat 5|. Said compartment 69 is separated from a vertical channel oftl'ie upper fitting 39. by a vertical wall H, and said vertical wall includes an opening 12 affording communication between the channel 18 and the compartment 69. Said channel 18 is in continuation of the channel 63.

The lower fitting 4| includes, a vertical wall 13 which divides said fitting 4| into separate compartments, indicated I4 and 15, respectively. Said vertical wall 13 extends obliquely to a vertical plane passed through all of the valve seats 50, 5|, 53 and 54, is oblique to the vertical wall 56, is disposed between the valve seats 53 and 54, and is at the side of the opening 55 opposite said wall 56. In fact, the vertical wall 13 is in the vertical plane of the vertical wall 61. The compartment 14 is below or under the valve seat 53, and the compartment is below or under the valve seat 54. Said compartment is separated from a vertical channel I6 of the lower fitting 4| by a vertical wall ||,v and said vertical wall I'lincludes an opening 18 afiording communication between the channel 16 and the compartment15. Said channel 16 is in continuation of the channel 63.

A passageway I9 in communication with the compartment 68 is connected to the port or passageway 3| in the casting or cylinder head 22 by means of a pipe 89, and a passageway 8| in communication with the compartment 74 is connected to the port or passageway 32 in the casting or cylinder head 23 by means of a pipe 82. v

A vertical valve stem 83 supports valves, denoted 84 and 85,.respectively, the valve 84 being adapted to downwardly engage the valve seat when the valve stem 83 is depressed and the valve 85 being adapted to upwardly engage the valve seat 53 when said valve stem is. elevated. As will be apparent, the valve 84 is movable in the compartment 68, and the valve 85 is movable in g the compartment 14. When the valve 84 engages its seat 58, the valve 85 is away from its seat 53, and vice versa. The valve stem 83 is guided, as indicated at 86 and 81, respectively, in the upper fitting 39 and in the intermediate fitting 48, and said upper fitting includes a stufiing box 88 surrounding said valve stem 83.

A vertical valve stem 89 supports valves, de-

noted 98 and 9|, respectively, the valve 98 being adapted to downwardly engage the valve seat 5| when the valve stem 89 is depressed and the valve 9| being adapted to upwardly engage the valve seat 54 when said valve stem is elevated. The valve 98 is movable in the compartment 69, and the valve 9| is movable in the compartment 15. When the valve 99 engages its seat 5|, the valve 9| is away from its seat 54, and vice versa. The valve stem 89 is guided, as indicated at 92 and 93, respectively, in the upper fitting 39 and in the horizontal wall 59 of the intermediate fitting 49, and said upper fitting and wall 59 include stuffing boxes, represented 94 and 95, respectively, surrounding said valve stem 89.

The float 37, or equivalent device, constitutes means formanipulating the valve stems 83 and B9 and the valves 84, 85 and 96, 9! carried by said valve stems. The fioat chamber 36, or equivalent, is a closed receptacle, and said float 31 is freely movable, upwardly and. downwardly, in. said receptacle. A vertical rod 96, suitably attached to the fioat 31, extends upwardly through a guide tube 9'! fixed in the upper wall of the receptacle and arranged in spaced relation to said rod 96. I

A connector 98 is adjustably secured upon the upper portion of the rod 96. Said connector may include two side members 99 connected to a collar Hill by means of set screws NH. The collar I98 may be adjustably set along the length of the rod 'tion of said lever |95 is pivoted, as at 36, to the upper end of the valve stem 83, and is pivoted, as at M7, to the upper end of the valve stem 69. The connections between the lever. I85 and the valve stems 83 and 89 may be adjustable, as indi' cated generally at H88.

Upon rise of sewage or waste matter in the float chamber 36, due to back-up of sewage or waste matter in the sewer, the float 37 is elevated to cause the rod 96 and the connector 88 to lift the adjacent end of the lever |85 to thus move the valve 99 to open position and close the valve 9|, and also move the valve 84 to closed position and open the valve 85. Upon such occurrence, water fiows under pressure from the inlet pipe 65 through the passageway 66 to the vertical channel 63, thence to the vertical channel "5'8 and through the. opening F2 to the compartment 69, thence downwardly past the open Valve 98 and the valve seat 5| to the compartment 68, thence upwardly through the opening 52 to the dompartment 69, and thence outwardly through the passageway 16, the pipe connection 89 and the port or passageway 3| to the upper portion of the interior 33 of the cylinder 22, 23, 24, above the piston 34. The water so entering the cylinder under head pressure obviously causes said piston 34 to be depressed and the gate valve I8 to be moved to closed position of the sewer drain pipe I5. Concurrently with the flow of water to the upper portion of the cylinder, water flows under pressure, caused by the downwardly moving piston 34, from the lower portion of said cylinder and out of the outlet passageway 62, the flow of water being through the port or passageway 32 and the pipe connection 82 to the passageway 8|, thence through the compartment I4 and upwardly past the open valve 85 and the valve seat 53 to the compartment 51, and through said compartment 51 to said outlet passageway 62.

Upon fall of sewage or waste matter in the float chamber 36, when back-up in the sewer is discontinued, the float 3'! is lowered by gravity to cause the rod 96 and the connector 98 to depress the adjacent end of the lever I65 to thus move the valve 84 to open position and close the valve 85, and also move the valve 96 to closed position and open the valve 9 I. Upon such occurrence, water flows under pressure from the inlet pipe 65 through the passageway 66 to the vertical channel 63, thence to the vertical channel I6 and through the opening T8 to the compartment T5, thence upwardly past the open valve 9I and the valve seat 54 to the compartment 6|, thence downwardly through the opening 55 to the compartment I4, and thence outwardly through the passageway 8 I, the pipe connection 82 and the port or passageway 32 to the lower portion of the interior of the cylinder, below the piston 34. The water so entering the cylinder under head pressure causes said piston 34 to be elevated and the gate valve I8 to be moved to open position of the sewer drain pipe. Concurrently with the flow of water to the lower portion of the cylinder, water flows under pressure, caused by the upwardly moving piston 34, from the upper portion of said cylinder and out of the outlet passageway 62, the flow of water being through the port or passageway3l and the pipe connection to the passageway "I9, thence through the compartment 68 and downwardly past the open valve 84 and the valve seat 59 to the compartment 51, and thence from said compartment 5'! to said outlet passageway 62.

It might be remarked that when the lever I65 is swung upwardly, the force is applied to the valve stem 83 as a fulcrum, so that the valve 84 is closed and the valve is opened, and the valve stem 88 is lifted to open the valve 60 and close the valve 9|. When the lever J65 is swung downwardly, the force is applied to the valve stem 89 as a fulcrum, so that the valve is closed and the valve BI is opened, and the stem 83 is lifted to open the valve 84 and close the valve 85.

It will be apparent that whenever the valve 90 is opened and the valve BI is closed, water under pressure from the inlet pipe 65 is applied to said valve SI to assist in closing it and opening the valve 96, the passage of water to the lower surface of the valve 9| being through the passageway 66, the vertical chambers 63 and I6 and the opening I8 into the compartment "I5. Likewise, whenever the valve SI is opened and the valve 9|] is closed, water under pressure from said inlet pipe 65 is applied to said valve 66 to assist in closing it and opening the valve 9|, the passage of water to the upper surface of the valve 90 being through the passageway 66, the vertical chambers 63 and I6 and the opening I2 into the compartment 69. While the valve 84 remains closed and the valve 96 is open, the pressure of water in the compartment 68 exerts a closing force against said valve 84. Thereafter, when the valve 90 is closed and the valve 9| is opened, the pressure in the compartment 68 exerting a closing force against the valve 84 is relieved, and pressure is exerted in the compartment I4 tending to close the valve 85 and open the valve 84. Also, while the valve 85 remains closed and the valve BI is open, the pressure of water in the compartment I4 exerts a closing force against said valve 85. Thereafter, when the valve 9| is closed and valve 90 is opened, the pressure in the compartment I4 exerting a closing force against the valve 85 is relieved, and pressure is exerted in the compartinent 68 tending to close the valve 84 and open the valve 85. In short, the water pressure is applied to assist in holding the valves in their intended positions, as well as to assist in the shifting of said valves to their intended positions.

The lower portion of the float chamber 36 is constructed, as at I09, to provide a liquid seal for the float 31, and said float is open only at its lower side H0. The upper portion of the float carries a suitable valve III of structure to snugly engage a valve seat H2, provided by the lower portion of the internal surface of the guide tube 91, when said float is at its maximum elevation. In addition to guiding the float, the tube 9'! provides an arrangement for ready removal of air from and entry of air to the float chamber in response to rising and falling float movements, so that said float can operate easily, evenly and smoothly without having to overcome air interference. The valve III and the valve seat H2 obviously cooperate with each other to seal the float chamber against the passage of sewage or waste matter from said cham ber, and from the apparatus or mechanism, when said float has been elevated to position above which there could be possibility of egress of sewage or waste matter.

Means is provided for flushing the float chamber 36 with waste water from the water pressure system leading to the inlet pipe 65, the purpose of flushing said float chamber being to preclude or prevent clogging which would interfere with the transmission of back-up pressure to the float chamber and would also interfere with proper movements of the float 31. A flush tank or vessel H3 is adapted to receive water from the outlet passageway 62 through a pipe connection I I4 leading from said outlet passageway 62 and communicating with an upper portion of said tank or vessel, as at H5. An overflow or drain pipe H6 leads from an elevation of the tank or vessel H3 below the location of entry of the pipe connection H4 to said tank or vessel. The portion of the pipe connection H4 which enters the tank or vessel H3 and the overflow or drain pipe I I6 may be out of vertical alinement with each other, as disclosed. Desirably, the pipe connection I I4 may have the lower end of its portion which is arranged in the tank or vessel closed, as at I", and may communicate with said tank or vessel through side wall openings H8. Likewise, the overflow or drain pipe H6 may have its upper end closed, as at H9, and the tank or vessel may communicate with said overflow or drain pipe through side wall openings I20.

A lower portion of the flush tank or vessel H3 is in communication with a lower portion of the float chamber 35 by way of a pipe connection I2I, and desirably said pipe connection includes a suitable check valve I22 which allows passage of water from the tank or vessel I I3 to the float chamber 36, but is adapted to prevent passage of sewage or waste matter from said float chamber to said tank or vessel.

The tank or vessel H3 obviously receives all water forced under pressure out of the outlet passageway 62, and provides means for accomplishing gravity flushing of the float chamber 31. The pipe connection H4 and the overflow or drain pipe H6 in cooperation with the portion of the tank or vessel I I3 between the elevations of the inlet, or side wall openings I I8, from the pipe connection H4 andthe outlet, or side wall openings I29, to the overflow or drain pipe provides an atmospheric break, so-called, for precluding back-up of polluted water or waste matter from the sewer drain system, (should polluted water or waste matter enter said tank or vessel H3 past the check valve I22 at times of back-up in said sewer drain system), into the pipe connection or water feed pipe H4 whence the polluted water or waste matter could possibly getback into the inlet pipe 65 to contaminate the water supply system. It will be apparent that at times when the sewer drain system is working properly, the water which enters the flush tank or vessel H3 will flow immediately into the float chamber 36 to flush it. When there is back-up in the sewer drain system, liquid will accumulate in said tank or vessel H3, and upon the cessation of back-upin said sewer drain system, the liquid will flow from the tank or vessel to the float chamber to flush it. Whenever the level of liquidin the tank or vesselI I3 reaches the elevation of the side wall openings I20, liquid overflows to and out of the drain pipe H6. This overflow precludes travel of liquid backwards through the pipe connection H4.

The gate valve I8 illustrated is of novel and improved construction, and is associated with the valve stem 28 in new and improved manner.

As disclosed, the gate valve includes a pair of oppositely disposed plates, denoted I23 and I24, respectively, and each plate I23, I24 includes an annular valve member, indicated I25 and I26, respectively, at the outer surface of the plate. The valve member I25 is adapted to engage an annular valve seat I21 surrounding the opening through the portion I9 of the sewer drain pipe I5, and the valve member I26 is adapted to engage an annular valve seat I28 surrounding the portion I6 of said sewer drain pipe I5. Evidently, when the elements I25, I21 and I26, I28, respectively, are in engagement, flow between the portions I6 and I9 of the sewer drain pipe is completely shut off. 1

Each plate I23 and I 24 includes inwardly extending flanges, represented I29 and I30, respectively, at the upper portions of its inner surface, and said flanges I29 and I39 provide shoulders, denoted I3I and I32, respectively, adapted to rest upon flanges I33, carried by and surrounding a lower portion of the valve stem 29, when the gate valve is in open position, or in partially closed and not 'seated position, as in Figs. 8 and 9. Thus, the valve stem 29 and its flanges I33 normally support the plates I23 and I24 by engagement beneath the shoulders I3I and I32, said plates being suspended from said valve stem. In addition to the flanges I29 and I providing the annular shoulders I3I and I32, the plates I23 and. I24 include strengthening, reinforcing and balancing ribs or members, represented I34 and I35, respectively, upon their inner surfaces.

A lower portion of the valve stem 29 additionally integrally supports oppositely disposed studs,

' indicated I36 and I37, respectively, said studs being situated below the elevation of the flanges I33 in spaced relation to said flanges. Wedges, designated I38 and I39, respectively, are carried by said studs I36, I31, and each wedge I38, I39 includes downwardly converging working surfaces I48. A wedge I38, I39 is at each side of the valve stem 29, and each wedge is adapted to slidably engage surfaces, denoted MI and I42, respectively, extending downwardly and inwardly from the inner surfaces of the plates I23 and I24 and desirably disposed at about the mid-heights of said plates.

When the plates I23 and I24 are in the closed condition of the sewer drain pipe I5, they are in spaced relation to the bottom, curvilinear surface of the valve casing IT, as will be very clear from Figs. 2, 8, 9 and 10. Such an arrangement is desirable, because otherwise sewage or Waste matter might possibly become accumulated at the bottom of said valve casing IT to interfere with proper closing of the gate valve, as will be understood. As' shown very clearly in Figs. 2 and 8, downward movement of the plates I23 and I 24 is arrested by engagement of the lower circumferential surface of each of said plates with a pair of spaced apart lugs or bosses, denoted I43, arranged beneath the plate adjacent its side edges and at either side of the bottom or base of the valve casing I'I. When the plates I23 and I24 are in engagement with the lugs or bosses I43, the annular valve members I25 and I26 are in position directly opposite the annular valve seats I 2'1 and I28, respectively.

The manner in which the gate valve I8 is moved to closed and open positions is as follows. When said gate valve is in open position, or in partially closed, unseated position, the plates I23 and I24 are supported upon the shoulders I3I and I32 and the wedges I38 and I39 are above and out of engagement with the downwardly and inwardly extending surfaces MI and I42 upon said plates I23 and I24. During movement of the gate valve to closed position, by downward movement of the valve stem 20 under pressure of course caused by downward forcing of the piston 34, as before described, the plates I23 and I24 first engage the lugs or bosses I43 to be supported thereby, and thereafter, as said valve stem 26 moves further downwardly, the wedges I38 and I39, or their downwardly converging working surfaces B40, engage and slide over the downwardly and inwardly extending surfaces I4I and I42 upon the plates I23 and I24, and cause said plates to be spread apart so that their annular valve members I25 and I26 firmly engage the annular valve seats I21 and I28, as these ele-.

ments are disclosed in Fig. 10. Evidently, upon upward movement of the valve stem 20 to open the gate valve, the commencement of saidupward movement releases the wedges I38 and I33 to allow the plates I23 and I24 to be eased away from the annular valve seats I27 and I28, as illustrated or suggested in Fig. 9, so that the gate valve can, by engagement of the flanges I33 of the valve stem 26 beneath the shoulders I3I and I 32, be elevated and thus moved to completely open position without necessity for overcoming any friction between valves and valve seats. It will be evident that in the closing of the gate valve l8, as well as in the opening of said gate valve, there will be no hindrance due to friction, other than the small amount of friction necessitated by the sliding of the wedges I 38 and I39 over the oblique surfaces MI and I42.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a sewer drain pipe, a chamber for sewage, a connection affording communcation between said sewer drain pipe and said chamber, a member in said chamber adapted to rise and fall with rise and fall of level of sewage in the sewer drain pipe and chamber, and means for guiding said member including devices providing for ready removal of .air from and entry of air to said chamber responsive to rising and falling movements of said member and sealing of the chamber against passage of sewage therefrom upon elevation of said member to a predetermined position, one of said devices being fixed to said member.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a sewer drain pipe, a float chamber for sewage, a connection afiording communication between said sewer drain pipe and said float chamber, a float in said float chamber, a rod carrying said float, a guide for said rod in loose relation thereto and providing an air passageway between said float chamber and atmosphere, and a valve fixedly carried by said float and adapted to close said passageway against egress of sewage from said float chamber upon rise of said float to a predetermined location in said float chamber.

3. In a sewer flooding control apparatus for preventing back-up flooding from a sewer drain pipe, a valve for controlling said sewer drain pipe, means including water under pressure for actuating said sewer control valve, a chamber for sewage, a connection afiording communication between said sewer drain pipe and said chamber, a member in said chamber actuated in response to rise and fall of sewage in said sewer drain pipe for regulating said means, and mechanism for utilizing waste water emanating from said means to flush said chamber, said mechanism including an atmospheric air break, socalled, for precluding travel of fluid from said chamber to said means.

4. In a sewer flooding control apparatus for preventing back-up flooding from a sewer drain pipe, a valve for controlling said sewer drain pipe, means including water under pressure for actuating said sewer control valve, a chamber for sewage, a connection affording communication between said sewer drain pipe and said chamber, a member in said chamber actuated in response to rise and fall of sewage in said sewer drain pipe for regulating said means, and mechanism for conveying waste water from said means to said chamber to flush it, said mechanism including a vessel and a connection between said vessel and said chamber for conveying flushing water by gravity from the vessel to the chamber.

5. In a sewer flooding control apparatus for preventing back-up flooding from a sewer drain pipe, a valve for controlling said sewer drain pipe, means including water under pressure for actuating said sewer control valve, a chamber for sewage, a connection afiording communication between said sewer drain pipe and said chamber, a member in said chamber actuated in response to rise and fall of sewage in said sewer drain pipe for regulating said means, and mechanism for conveying waste water from said means to said chamber to flush it, said mechanism including a vessel, a connection for leading waste water from said means to said vessel, a connection between a lower portion of the vessel and a lower portion of the chamber for conveying water by gravity from said vessel to said chamber, and an overflow outlet from said vessel below the elevation of entry of water from said means to said vessel.

6. In a sewer flooding control apparatus for preventing back-up flooding from a sewer drain pipe, a valve for controlling said sewer drain pipe, means including water under pressure from a water supply system for actuating said sewer control valve, a chamber for sewage, a connection affording communication between said sewer drain pipe and said chamber, a member in said chamber actuated in response to rise and fall of sewage in said sewer drain pipe for regulating said means, a vessel, a pipe connection leading from said means and adapted to convey waste water from said water supply system to an upper portion of said vessel, said vessel being at elevation above said chamber, a gravity flow connection between a lower portion of said vessel and said chamber, and an overflow outlet from the vessel below the location of entry of waste water from said means to said vessel.

'7. In a sewer flooding control apparatus for preventing back-up flooding from a sewer drain pipe, a valve for controlling said sewer drain pipe, means including water under pressure from a water supply system for actuating said sewer control valve, a chamber for sewage, a connection affording communication between said sewer drain pipe and said chamber, a member in said chamber actuated in response to rise and fall of sewage in said sewer drain pipe for regulating said means, a vessel, a pipe connection leading from said means and adapted to convey waste water from said water supply system to an upper portion of said vessel, said vessel being at elevation above said chamber, a gravity flow connection between a lower portion of said vessel and said chamber, a check valve in said gravity flow connection for precluding travel of sewage from said chamber to said vessel, and an overflow outlet from the vessel at elevation below the location of entry of water from said means to said vessel.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a sewer drain pipe, a valve for controlling said sewer drain pipe, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a member connecting said sewer control valve to said piston, means including water under pressure from a water supply system for actuating said piston in opposite directions to open and to close said sewer control valve, said water under pressure being adapted to be supplied to said cylinder at either side of said piston, and mechanism for regulating the supply of water to said cylinder, said mechanism comprising an inlet from said water supply system, an outlet for waste water, separate water connections leading to said cylinder at opposite sides, respectively, of said piston, a water connection leading from said inlet to each of said mentioned separate water connections, respectively, a pair of valves including a valve for controlling each of said water connections from said inlet to said separate water connections, said pair of valves being operable in unison in such manner that when one of the valves is actuated to allow passage of water through its corresponding water connection the other valve is actuated to preclude passage of water through its corresponding water connection, and vice versa, a water connection leading from each of said mentioned separate water connections to said outlet, a pair of valves including a valve for controlling each of said water connections from the separate water connections to the outlet, said last mentioned pair of valves being operable in unison in such manner that when one of the valves is actuated to allow passage of water through its corresponding water connection the other valve is actuated to preclude passage of water through its corresponding water connection, and vice versa, and said mentioned pairs of valves having relation to each other so that when there is communication between said inlet and the portion of said cylinder at one side of said piston there is communication between the portion of said cylinder at the opposite side of said piston and said outlet, a stem for each pair of valves, an actuating lever separately pivoted to each stem, and means for swinging said actuating lever upwardly in response to rise of liquid level in said sewer drain pipe and for swinging said actuating lever downwardly by gravity in response to fall of liquid level in said sewer drain pipe.

9. In an apparatus of the character described,

a sewer drain pipe, a valve for controlling said sewer drain pipe, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a member connecting said sewer control valve to said piston, means including water under pressure from a water supply system for actuating said piston in opposite directions to open and to close said sewer control valve, said water under pressure being adapted to be supplied to said cylinder at either side of said piston, and mechanism for regulating the supply of water to said cylinder, said mechanism comprising a casting divided into compartments, an inlet from said water supply system to said casing, an outlet for waste water from said casing, separate water connections leading from said casing to said cylinder at opposite sides, respectivel of said piston, a water connection leading from said inlet by way of said compartments of said casing to each of said mentioned separate water connections, respectively, a valve stem slidable in said casing, a pair of spaced apart valves upon said valve stem and within compartments of said casing including a valve for controlling each of said water connections leading by Way of the compartments of said casing from said inlet to said separate water connections, said pair of valves being operable so that when one of the valves is actuated to allow passage of water through its corresponding water connection the other valve is actuated to preclude passage of water through its corresponding water connection, and vice versa, a water connection leading by way of said compartments of said casing from each of said mentioned separate water connections to said outlet, a second valve stem slidable in said casing, a pair of spaced apart valves upon said second valve stem and within compartments of said casing including a valve for controlling each of said water connections leading by way of compartments of the casing from the separate water connections to the outlet, said last mentioned pair of valves being operable so that when one of the valves is actuated to allow passage of water through its corresponding water connection the other valve is. actuated to preclude passage of water through its corresponding water connection, and vice versa, and said mentioned valves having relation to each other and to the compartments of the casing so that when there is communication between said inlet and the portion of the cylinder at one side of said piston there is communication between the portion of said cylinder at the opposite side of said piston and said outlet, and means responsive to rise and fall of level of sewage in said sewer drain pipe for shifting the relative positions of said different pairs of valves.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a cylinder, a piston therein, a casing divided into compartments, an inlet from water under pressure from a water supply system to said casing, an outlet for waste water from said casing, separate water connections leading from said casing to said cylinder at opposite sides, respectively, of said piston, a water connection leading from said inlet by way of said compartments of said casing to each of said mentioned separate water connections, respectively, a valve stem slidable in said casing, a pair of spaced apart valves upon said valve stem and within compartments of said casing including a valve for controlling each of said water connections leading by way of the compartments of said casing from said inlet to said separate water connections, said pair of valves being operable so that when one of the valves is actuated to allow ,passage of water through its corresponding water connection the other valve is actuated to preclude passage of water through its corresponding water connection, and vice versa, a water connection leading by way of said compartments of said casing from each of said mentioned separate water connections to said outlet, a second valve stem slidable in said casing, a pair of spaced apart valves upon said second valve stem and within compartments of said casing including a valve for controlling each of said water connections leading by way of compartments of the casing from the separate water connections to the outlet, said last mentioned pair of valves being operable so that when one of the valves is actuated to allow passage of water through its corresponding water connection the other valve is actuated to preclude passage of water through its corresponding water connection, and vice versa, and said mentioned pairs of valves having relation to each other and to the compartments of the casing so that when there is communication. between said inlet and the portion of the cylinder at one side of said piston there is communication between the portion of said cylinder at the opposite side of said piston and said outlet, and means for actuating said valve stems to shift the relative positions of said different pairs of valves.

11. In an apparatus of the character described,

' a casing having walls dividing it into compartments, an inlet for water under pressure from a water supply system to said casing, an outlet for waste water from said casing, a first and a second water connection leading from said casing, a water connection leading from said inlet by way of said compartments of said casing to each of said first and second water connections, respectively, a valve stem slidable in said casing, a pair of spaced apart valves upon said valve stem and within compartments of said casing including a valve for controlling each of said water connections leading by way of the compartments of said casing from said inlet to said first and second water connections, respectively, said pair of valves being operable so that when one of the valves is actuated to allow passage of water through its corresponding water connection the other valve is actuated to preclude passage of water through its corresponding water connection, and vice versa, a water connection leading by way of said compartments of said casing from each of said first and second water connections, respectively, to said outlet, a second valve stem slidable in said casing, a pair of spaced apart valves upon said second valve stem and within compartments of said casing including a valve for controlling each of said water connections leading by way of said compartments of the casing from the first and second water connections to the outlet, said last mentioned pair of valves being operable so i connection the other valve is actuated to preclude passage of water through its corresponding water connection, and vice versa, and said mentioned pairs of valves having relation to each other and to the compartments of the casing so that when there is communication between said inlet and said first Water connection there is communication between said second Water connection and said outlet and when there is communication between said inlet and said second water connection there is communication between said first water connection and said outlet, and means for actuating said valve stems to shift the relation of said different pairs of valves.

WILLIAM E. HARDACKER. 

